Improvement in firemen s belts



F. COSTANTINO.

FIREMENS BELT.

Patented May15,1877.

N-PEIERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D G.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FUGAZZI OOSTANTINO, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIREMEN'S BELTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [90,829, dated May 15, 1877; application filed March 20, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FUGAZZI GOSTANTINO, a resident of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firemens Belt Escape Attachment and Tool-Carrier, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the fireman equipped with my attachment, the escaperope hanging coiled from the belt, and the tools in their receptacles'; Fig. 2, the fireman escaping, the rope being knotted for hand-holds, and fastened by the spike at its end to a window-sill; Fig. 3, a detached view of the belt; and Figs. 4, 5, and 6, details.

The object of my invention is to provide means of escape for afireman, which are carried upon his person, and at no inconvenience to himself, and to combine with such escape attachment the necessary tools for attaching it to walls, 850., and for making openings, cutting away obstructions, 8w.

I employ .a strong belt, A, of any suitable material, which is fastened in front of the wearer, belt-like, by a strong snap-hook fastening, a, or by any belt-fastening suitable for the purpose. Upon the belt, at or near the front right side of the wearer, is a strongly riveted or otherwise fastened eye or loop, b, for the purpose of holding a coil of knotted rope, B, which is of sufficient length to reach from the tops of buildings to the ground, said rope being attached to the eye b by a snaphook, c, at one of its ends, and to the building by an eyed spike, f, when used, respectively, coiled or uncoiled for use, as shown in the drawings.

The snap-hook e engages with the loop b, and by this means the coil of rope is suspended.

Upon the belt, at or near the front left side of the wearer, are pockets 0 and (1, upon the inner and outer side, respectively, for the purpose of holding a tool, 0, of peculiar construction, and a hatchet, D.

The tool 0 is incased in a sheath, and is double-edged, one edge being a saw and the other a hacking or cutting knife. The blade of the hatchet has a metallic guard, g, held in place by spring-clamps h, so as to be readily removed when the hatchet is required for use.

Should the eye of the pin break or be weak, the fireman, before descending, ties a knot around the spike, as shown in detail, Fig. 6.

The escape-rope B is knotted, as at k k, to form rests; or said rests may be woven in the rope.

The fireman uses the tools as emergency or occasion requires. In escaping, he uncoils the rope, drives the spike in the window-sill, or any convenient portion of the building, and descends in safety by the rope.

In dangerous places, the fireman may first uncoil the rope, drive in the spike, and allow it to remain attached to his girdle, so that in case of his falling, or any similar disaster, he may drag himself to a place of safety.

I claim- A firemans belt escape attachment, consisting of a belt, A, provided with eye b and pockets c d, and a coil of rope having knots at intervals, and a snap-hook at one end for engagement withsaid eye b, and at the other a spike, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

FUGAZZI OOSTANTINO.

Witnesses:

A. E. H. JOHNSON, J. W. HAMILTON JOHNSON. 

